Scaffolding node

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns an assembly for forming a scaffold joint with a transverse brace and posts having at least one projection extending radially with respect to the post axis out from its outer surface, the protrusion having an opening into which a hook disposed on the end of the brace can be introduced from an upper direction, wherein a wedge (47), disposed on the end of the brace, is sufficiently separated from the contours of the hook in its position automatically assumed below the opening (4) subsequent to introduction of the hook (7) into the opening (4) to block motion of the end of the brace in the upward direction through the opening (4), wherein the lower end of the wedge (47) projects in a sideward direction beyond the contours of the hook (7) prior to complete introduction of the hook (7) into the opening and seats on the edge of the opening and, with further introduction of the hook, can be displaced by the edge in the upward direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns an assembly for the formation of a scaffold jointwith transverse braces and posts having at least one protrusionextending radially with respect to the post axis from its outer surface,the protrusion having an opening into which a hook disposed on the endof the brace can be introduced from an upward direction, and adisplaceable wedge is disposed on the end of the brace at an acute anglewith respect to the post axis, wherein the wedge, following introductionof the hook into the opening, has a separation below the opening fromthe contour of the hook which is sufficient to block a motion of the endof the brace through the opening in an upward direction (spreadposition).

In a scaffold joint of this kind known in the art by means of FIG. 1 ofthe French patent publication 2 483 994, no abutment surface is presentin the path of the front end of the wedge transcribed by the end duringpenetration of the hook through the opening onto which this end engagesto facilitate motion relative to the hook. The hook can only depart fromits introduced position when the lower end of the wedge has gainedentrance to below the opening of the protrusion. However, it is oftenthe case that the wedge neither leaves its introductory position at thislocation nor during subsequent further introduction of the hook into theopening, since the resistance within the guiding which guides the wedgein the hook is, in consequence of soiling, so large, that the wedge canno longer automatically protrude beyond the contours of the hook. Inthis case, this motion of the wedge in its spread position must beinitiated or effected by means of a blow on the upper end of the wedge.The separation between the surface facing away from the post of thatportion of the hook which is to penetrate into the opening and a surfaceof the hook designated to abut at the post corresponds approximately toa separation between a front surface of the opening in the protrusionfacing the post and the post so that the lower end of the wedge fails toaddress an abutment surface or a seating surface when introducing thehook into the opening which would hold back the wedge duringintroduction of the hook into the opening. In addition, this separationfrom the surface of the post is only slightly larger than the width ofthe hook including the wedge in its introductory position so that thehook must already seat on the surface of the post when introduced intothe opening. This, however, requires that the hook be rather preciselypositioned above the opening prior to introduction into the openingwhich makes its introduction into the opening from the end of the bracelying away from the scaffold joint extremely difficult.

It is therefore the purpose of the invention to improve the conventionalscaffold joint to such an extent that its introduction into the openingand thereby the attachment of a brace to a post is substantiallysimplified compared to the conventional scaffold joint.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This purpose is achieved in accordance with the invention in that thelower end of the wedge projects beyond the contours of the hook in asideward direction prior to complete introduction of the hook into theopening so that this end, when introducing the hook into the opening,seats on an edge of the opening and can be displaced in an upwarddirection during further introduction of the hook.

The invention has the advantage that it is relatively insensitive tosoiling. The wedge can already assume its spread position prior tointroduction of the brace end into the opening and it is possible for aworker to push same into this position so that the sliding properties ofthe wedge can be checked and, if necessary, improved. When introducingthe hook into the opening, the wedge is then displaced into itsuppermost position by a force corresponding to the weight of the braceend. The wedge can move down into its lower position (spread position)after the lower end of the wedge has passed by the front surface of theopening when introducing the hook

The brace can be introduced from its end lying away from the scaffoldjoint from above into the opening at the post, wherein the wedge, in itslocation (introductory position) which facilitates introduction of thehook into the opening, moves due to its contact with the edge section ofthe protrusion surrounding the opening. After penetration of the hookthrough the opening, the wedge moves by itself or by means of pressureor a blow on its upper end into a position in which it is sufficientlyseparated from the contours of the hook that, in this spread position,the hook and the wedge cannot penetrate through the opening in responseto an upward motion and the wedge can only be positioned out of thisspread location by means of a force exercised directly on it, e.g. bymeans of a blow from a hammer, from below and onto the lower end of thewedge. A blow from below acting on the brace cannot move the wedge outof its spread position into its introductory position in which it is nolonger separated from the contours of the hook to block an upward motionto possibly, together with the hook, penetrate through the opening in anupward direction and escape therefrom. When the wedge is in the spreadposition with the end of the brace introduced in the opening only aforce exercised from below onto the wedge alone, can cause the wedge tomove relative to the hook and leave its spread position.

In embodiments of the invention, the assembly can be arranged in such afashion that, in the spread position, upward displacement of the wedgeis opposed only by its weight and the frictional resistance of itsguiding in the hook. Alternatively, a self-locking action occurs betweentwo cooperating sliding surfaces when sliding down the wedge into itsspread position which can only be overcome by the previously mentionedupwardly driving force on the wedge.

The angle through which the wedge is spread in its spread position withrespect to the surface of the hook facing the post, that is to say, theabove-mentioned acute angle, is chosen in such a fashion that the wedgecannot be pushed back from the edge or front surface of the opening inthe upward direction under the influence of an upward force acting onthe end of the brace. In this fashion, a self-locking action is effectedbetween two mutually cooperating surfaces of the wedge and its guideand/or the front surface of the opening.

When introducing the end of the brace into the opening it is possiblefor the wedge to move into its spread position after penetration of thelower end of the wedge and hook through the opening due to gravitationalforce only: in other embodiments of the invention, this motion issupported by means of a spring engaging the wedge.

In an embodiment of the invention, the radial dimension of the length ofthe opening is larger than the largest radial dimension of that sectionof the hook which can be inserted into the opening plus the dimensionwith which the end of the wedge in the uppermost position of the wedgeprotrudes sidewardly beyond the contours of the hook. In this fashion itis possible for the brace end, during or subsequent to introduction ofthe hook into the opening, to still be pushed in the radial directiontowards the post and, during this pushing or after the brace hook seats,the wedge slides through the opening into its spread position, whereinthis motion can be initiated or supported by means of a blow on theupper end surface of the wedge.

In the assembly in accordance with the invention, the worker caninitially suspend the brace with the hook in the opening so that thebrace, in this position, is already provisionally attached, whereby, ifnecessary, this section of the scaffold can already be walked upon andsubsequent thereto, by pushing the end of the brace towards the post,the wedge falls in a downward direction or, by means of a blow on itsupper end, is guided into its spread position to secure the brace atthis location. During its introduction into the opening, the hook has anamount of space sufficient to facilitate and simplify this introduction.

In an embodiment of the invention, the hook has a surface for seating onthe post at its side facing the post which advantageously travels in thedirection of the post axis.

In this embodiment of the invention, when the end of the brace isintroduced into the opening at the post, the front surface of the end ofthe brace is already adjacent to the outer surface of the post. By firmtapping on the wedge from above, the wedge surface seats on the inneredge of the opening facing away from the post and presses the end of thebrace towards the post so that, at least at this time, the scaffoldjoint has the necessary tensile strength, compression strength andstiffness.

The wedge can, however, also be moved in a guided fashion in anothermanner, e.g. the surface of the wedge can have an eccentric shape or thelike.

A self-locking which prevents the edge of the opening from pushing backthe wedge into that position facilitating penetration through theopening can be effected by means of seating of various surfaces of thewedge on surfaces of the end of the brace. In an embodiment of theinvention, a self-locking between the surface of the inner edge of theopening and the surface of the wedge adjacent thereto occurs. It is alsopossible for a self-locking effect to be achieved by seating of othersurfaces of the wedge on other surfaces of the end of the brace, e.g. byseating of the surfaces of the wedge facing the post on correspondingsurfaces of the end of the brace, e.g. also through seating of twoseparated surfaces which simultaneously serve as guiding surfaces andwhich, e.g. by striking of the wedge, accept the wedge force generatedby the wedge between the edge of the opening rigidly connected to thepost and the end of the brace.

Forces, which are exercised by the edge of the opening on the spreadapart wedge during attempts to lift the end of the brace with the wedgein the spread-out position thereby increase the connecting strengthproduced by the self-locking effect so that an upward motion of the endof the brace is not possible.

In embodiments of the invention having a self-locking property, thewedge not only solves the problem of rigidly attaching the end of thebrace to the post by means of engagement into an opening on the postrather also solves the problem of preventing the end of the brace frommoving out of the opening even when the wedge is not driven into placeto the extent that the self-locking occurs independent of whether or notthe wedge is firmly seated.

In the spread position, the separation between a section of the edge ofthe wedge which is furthest from the post and the edge of the hookfacing the post is larger than the corresponding dimension between theinner edge of the opening facing the post and the surface defining theopening across from this inner edge. In embodiments of the invention,this section of the edge of the wedge which is furthest from the post islocated in the vicinity of its lower end, wherein the lower end can besomewhat tapered in a wedge-like fashion to facilitate penetrationthrough the opening. This section which is furthermost removed from thepost in the spread position can, in embodiments of the invention, alsobe fashioned by a stop protruding from the edge of the wedge facing awayfrom the post, which, when introducing the end of the brace into theopening, abuts with an edge of the opening to push the wedge back intoits introductory position facilitating penetration through the opening.When lowering the hook through the opening, the wedge therefore movesrelative to the hook into its introductory position with a component ofmotion approximately at right angles with respect to the edge of theopening from the edge region of the opening into the opening not only inthe event that its lower end abuts the edge of the opening rather alsoin the above-described case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Further features of the invention can be derived from the followingdescription of embodiments in connection with the claims and thedrawing. The individual features can be realized individually orcollectively in embodiments of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention are represented in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an end of a brace and a section of a post in an embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal cut through an embodiment of an end of abrace;

FIG. 3 shows a cut according to line III--III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of an embodiment of an end of a brace;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-section corresponding to that of FIG. 2 in anotherembodiment including the post;

FIG. 6 shows a cross-section corresponding to that of FIG. 5 of a thirdembodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In embodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, a post 1comprises a pipe having a rounded cross-section to which a rosette 2 isattached by means of weldments 3. In the embodiment shown, the rosette 2has four openings 4 which extend up to the periphery of the post 1.Holes 5 can also be provided for in the rosette 2 to facilitateattachment of additional scaffold components. A brace 6 which, in theembodiment shown, has a hollow rounded or rectangular shape, connectsposts 1 which are disposed vertically at separations from another. Ahook 7, which can be made from a wrought-iron component, is attached tothe hollow section on the end facing the post 1. The hook 7 has aseating surface 8 on its side facing the post 1 which serves for seatingat the periphery of the post 1. The hook 7 has a diagonal orwedge-shaped surface 9 on its side facing away from the post 1 whichguides the end of the brace during introduction of the hook 7 from anupward direction into an opening 4. The surface 9 can be configured insuch a fashion that it seats on an inner edge 10 of an opening 4 locatedat the end of the opening 4 facing away from the post 1, when the hook 7has been completely introduced into the opening 4. The surface 9 could,however, also exhibit a small separation from the inner edge 10 when theend of the brace or hook 7 is completely inserted into the opening 4. Inthe embodiment of the invention shown, the hook 7 is approximately twiceas long as the height of the brace 6 of FIG. 2 so that the seatingsurface 8 is sufficiently long to guarantee a rigid connection betweenthe post 1 and the brace 6.

The wrought-iron piece constituting the hook 7 is welded or attached insome other fashion to the end of the hollow section of the brace 6 andhas a groove 11 travelling from the top towards the bottom, wherein thegroove 11 in the embodiment of the invention shown terminates at thediagonal surface 9 at a separation from the end of the hookcorresponding approximately to one quarter of the hook length. A wedge12 is guided in a longitudinally displaceable fashion within this groove11. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the inner front surface 13forming the bottom of the groove then provides a guiding surface 14 forthe wedge surface 16 and a guiding surface 15 at the upper end of thegroove. The longitudinal motion of the wedge 12 is in a directionforming a small acute angle with the plane of the seating surface 8. Thewedge 12 seats on the guiding surfaces 14 and 15 with its lower frontsurface 16 facing the post 1 and with its upper surface 17. The wedge 12is guided with a clearance in an opening 20 in the lower wall 21 of thebrace 6 and in an opening 22 in an upper wall 23 by means of the edgesurfaces 18 and 19 opposite to the surfaces 16 and 17.

The wedge 12 has a protrusion 24 at its side facing away from the post 1having an eye 25 in which a pin 26 can be inserted in a removablemanner. An opening 27 is located in the side walls of the brace 6through which the pin 26 can be introduced into the eye 25.

The upper opening 22 of FIG. 2 is sufficiently large to allow for thewedge 12 to be pulled upwardly out of the groove 11 when the pin 26 isremoved from the eye 25, i.e. the length of the opening is sufficient toallow passage of the protrusion 24.

In the embodiment of the invention shown, the opening 4 is somewhatlonger, as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the brace 6, than thewidth of the hook 7 at that location at which it penetrates through theopening 4 when the lower wall 21 of the brace 6 seats on the rosette 2.When the wedge 12 is pushed in a downward direction with the brace 6seating on the rosette 2, e.g. through a blow of a hammer, its surface19 seats on the inner edge 10 of the opening 4 and, since the surfaces16 and 19 of the wedge 12 taper together in a wedge-shaped fashion,presses via the guiding surfaces 14 and 15 the surface 8 towards theouter wall of the post 1, to thereby rigidly connect the brace 6 and thepost 1. In this position, the section with which the wedge surface 16seats on the guiding surface 14 is below the plane of the opening 4 ofthe rosette 2. The section 17 at which the upper part of the wedge 12 ispressed onto the guiding surface 15 is situated above the rosette 2.

When the end of the brace 6 is introduced from above into the opening 4,the tip of the hook 7 enters into the opening 4 and the wedge 12,assuming the spread position, protrudes below out of the brace 6 andloosely seats in the guide fashioned by the groove 11 and surfaces 14and 15. The protrusion 24 can thereby seat on the inner surface of thelower wall 21 of the brace. The opening 20 is, however, not sufficientlylarge to allow the wedge to fall downwardly out through this opening.

In this spread position, the lower end 28 of the wedge 12 is spreadapart from the hook 7. The separation 29 between that section 41 of theside surface 30 of the wedge 12 which is furthermost removed from thesurface 8 and this seating surface 8 (functioning for abutment with thepost 1) is, in this position, larger than the corresponding dimension 40(FIG. 1) of the opening 4 of the rosette 2.

When the brace end is then lowered into an opening 4, the lower end ofthe hook 7 enters into the opening 4 and is guided therein by means ofdiagonal surface 9 into the proper position. The lower end 28 of thewedge 12 thereby seats on the upper side of the rosette 2 outside of theopening 4 so that the wedge 12, moveable in its guiding, is pushed backin the upward direction. Since this motion occurs at an acute angle withrespect to the seating surface 8, the separation 29 is thereby reducedand the lower end 28 gains entrance to the region above the opening 4 sothat it no longer seats on the rosette 2. From this position, the wedge12, in consequence of its weight or by means of a spring force, canslide through the opening 4 in the downward direction until its wedgesurface 19 seats on the inner edge of the opening 4. The lower half ofthe wedge 12 then assumes, as shown in FIG. 2, a spread position inwhich it is spread apart from the hook 7 so that the separation 29 ofthe lower end 28 or of the section 41 of the wedge from the seatingsurface 8 is larger than the corresponding inner dimension 40 of theopening 4. The wedge surface 16 thereby seats on the guiding surface 14and the wedge surface 17 on the guiding surface 15. The wedge angle ischosen in such a fashion, that a self-locking occurs even in this statebetween oppositely lying surfaces solely due to the downward fall of thewedge 12 which is sufficient that the inner edge 10 can no longer pushthe wedge 12 in the upward direction relative to the hook 7 if the brace6 is lifted, rather remains in its spread out position shown in FIG. 2,in which the end of the brace can no longer pass through the opening 4since, in this position, the separation 29 is larger than the relevantdimension 40 of the opening 4. Only after the wedge 12 has been struckalong its guide in the upward direction through a hammer blow or thelike to overcome the spreading out of the lower part of the wedge fromthe hook 7 (the position shown as the dot-dashed line in FIG. 2), it ispossible for the end of the brace to again be removed through theopening 4 in the upward direction out of the rosette 2.

The wedge 12 has a nose 31 on its side facing the seating surface 8which can be positioned above the upper edge 32 of the hook 7 to holdthe wedge 12 in an upper position if required.

The brace 6 can, for purposes of connection of a diagonal brace, alsohave a hole 45 (FIG. 2) or a welded-on bolt, to which the end of adiagonal brace or the end of two diagonal braces can be attached. It isalso possible to have two holes or bolts of this kind disposed adjacentto each other so that an end of a diagonal brace can be attached to eachhole or bolt.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5 distinguishes itselffrom the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 in that the wedge 34 hasneither an eye 25 at its side facing away from the inner end surface 13of the groove 11 nor a nose 31 located on its side facing same, and theseating surface 8 protrudes to a certain extent at its upper and lowerends so that the surface 8 does not seat on the outer surface of thepost 1 along its entire length when the scaffold joint is secured ratheronly at an upper and lower section. The wedge 34 has a nose 32 on itsside facing away from the seating surface 8 with which the wedge 34 canseat on the inner side of the lower wall 21 above the opening 4, sincesame overlaps the edge of the lower opening 20 similar to the protrusion24 in the embodiment of FIG. 2. The wedge 34 can therefore not fall outof the opening 20 in a downward direction. The wedge has an eye 33 atits lower end into which a pin 26 can be secured to also prevent thewedge from falling out through the upper opening 22.

The side surface of the wedge 34 facing the seating surface 8 is curvedwhich, in cooperation with the also slightly curved guiding surfaces 35and 36 in the bottom of the groove 11, has several advantages withrespect to statics as well as with regard to manufacture.

The wedge force produced by the wedge surfaces 37 and 38 when drivingthe wedge 34 is, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, transferred from the inneredge 10 via the wedge 34 directly onto the surface 36 without having thewedge 34 being exposed to bending stresses, since the surface 36 islocated in the plane of the opening 4 when the end of the brace isintroduced into the opening 4. The front surface of the inner edge 10 isdiagonal in correspondence with the wedge surface 38 so that same seatswith as large a surface as possible on the inner edge 10.

In both embodiments, the angle of this diagonal, the travel of the wedgesurface 38 adjacent thereto, and the angle of spread are chosen in sucha fashion that the wedge cannot be pushed back through the edge 10 ofthe opening 4 and the spread-out position can only be reversed in theevent that the wedge 12, 34 is pushed back relative to the hook 7 bymeans of a force acting only on it.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 5, the wedge 34 has an additionalrecess 43 above the nose 32 by means of which the wedge 34, in theposition represented in dashed lines in FIG. 5, can be suspended in anupper position on the edge of an opening 44 or on another edge, so thatthe wedge 34 is held in its guiding position. Departing from thissuspended position, the wedge can be pivoted by a force directed towardsthe post 1 to a sufficient extent to be freed from the edge of theopening 44 and fall in a downward direction into a partially orcompletely spread position.

In the embodiments shown, a tensile force exercised by the brace 6 onthe post 1 is transferred by the hook 7 via the wedge 12, 34 to theinner edge 10 of the opening 4 rigidly connected to the post 1. Acompressive force exercised by the brace 6 on the post 1 is transferredto the post via the seating surface 8 or parts thereof. A force actingin the upward direction on the brace 6 is, in the spread position,transferred via the seating of the wedge on the inner edge 10 of theopening 4 to the rosette 2, since the wedge, due to its diagonalposition, is held by the edge of the opening. A downward force acting onthe brace 6 is transferred to the post 1 via seating of the end of thebrace on the rosette 2. This force transfer can be improved to an evenfurther extent if the wrought-iron hook 7 comprises an enlargement oneach of its two sides which overlaps the sideward edge of the opening 4at one or both sides in the position of seating on the rosette 2, tothereby form an additional seating surface. A torque exercised by thebrace 6 on the post 1 in the upward direction, is transferred to therosette 2 through seating of the wedge 12, 34 on the front surface ofthe groove 11 of the hook 7 as well as seating of the wedge on the inneredge 10 of the opening 4 and transferred to the seating surface 42(FIG. 1) of the post through seating of the seating surface 8 on theupper end of the hook 7. A torque acting to pivot the brace 6 in adownward direction is transferred to the rosette 2 through seating ofthe lower end of the hook 7 on the seating surface 42 of the post 1 andby seating of the wedge 12, 34 on the inner edge of the opening 4,wherein the wedge supports the hook 7 via the inner front surface of thegroove 11.

In the embodiments of the invention shown, the section 41 which isfurthermost removed from the surface 8 is proximate to the lower end ofthe wedge 12, 34. The separation 29 determines the spreading-out andthereby the spread-out angle as well as the blocking action of the wedgewith respect to upward motion through the opening 4. Such a section 41most distant from the surface 8 can, however, also be provided forsomewhat further upwardly on the wedge surface 19 or 38. It thenconstitutes a stop at its lower side which seats on the edge of theopening when introducing the hook 7 into the opening 4 to guide thewedge back into its introductory position in which this protrusion 41can pass through the opening 4 and the wedge 12, 34 moves in its spreadposition in which the separation of the section 41 forming a protrusionfrom the seating surface 8 is larger than the longitudinal dimension 40of the opening 4.

In the embodiments shown, the spread out between the hook 7 and thewedge 12, 34 is radial relative to the post axis. This spread out can,however, be in other directions in other embodiments, e.g. transverse tothe radius of the post. Important is only that, when introducing thehook into the opening from the upper direction, the lower end of thewedge or of a protrusion extending from the wedge abuts the edge of theopening or the surface of the rosette so that the wedge is thereby movedinto its introductory location at which it can pass through the opening4 along with the hook.

In the embodiments shown, the opening 4 is defined at its end adjacentto the post by a seating surface 42 located on the periphery of thepost. This has certain advantages from a statics as well as from amanufacturing standpoint. Clearly, the opening 4 can also be defined bya wall section also located in the rosette 2 at the side neighbouringthe post 1.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5, the distance betweenthe nose 32 and the upper end of the wedge 34 is sufficiently large atthat location at which the nose 32 seats on the inner surface of thewall 21 of the brace 6, (i.e. in the spread-out position with the upperend of the wedge 34, as shown in FIG. 5, either within the opening 44 orextending somewhat upwardly beyond same) to prevent the wedge frompivoting in the clockwise direction of FIG. 5.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 6, the groove 46corresponding to the groove 11 of FIGS. 2 and 3 is fashioned in such amanner that the lower end 48 of the wedge is located somewhat outside ofthe groove 46 when the wedge is in its fully upwardly displacedposition: this is not the case for the other embodiments in accordancewith FIGS. 2 and 5. In these embodiments, the lower end of the wedgecompletely disappears in the raised position (introductory position),within the groove with the slanted surface 9 of the hook seating on theedge of the opening 4 to push the edge towards the post 1. However, inthis introductory position, a certain amount of play remains between thehook 7 and the edge of the opening 4 and/or there is a gap between theseating surface 42 of the post 1 and the seating surface 8 of the hook7. This play or this gap disappears when the wedge 12 or 34 is firmlyhammered in the spread-out position.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the wedge 47 is pushed upwardly inthe groove 46 of the hook 7 when introducing the hook 7 into the opening4 but, as is the case above, does not completely disappear in the raisedposition (introductory position) within the groove 46, rather its lowerend remains on the upper surface 49 of the edge 50 of the opening 4,since it is somewhat displaced out of the groove 46 when the slantedsurface 51 of the hook 7 still seats on the inner end surface 52 of theopening 4. This slanted surface 51 is no longer wedge-shaped in itsupper section 53, rather is largely parallel to the seating surface 8 ofthe hook 7. In this position in which the section 53 of the slantedsurface 51 seats on the inner front surface 52 of the opening 4, a gap54 remains which is larger than the dimension by which the lower end 48of the wedge 47 protrudes out of the groove 46 at this position. Thebrace 6 is then pushed towards the post 1 so that the lower end 48 ofthe wedge 47 is freed from the surface 49 of the edge 50 and moves abovethe opening 4 and the wedge 47 can fall out of this position through theopening 4 to assume its spread position.

The dimensions can be chosen in such a fashion that the seating surface8 already seats on the outer surface of the post 1 before the lower end48 of the wedge 47 completely assumes its spread position, whereupon thewedge can then be firmly struck. The dimensions can, however, also bechosen in such a fashion that falling through of the end of the wedge 48through the opening 4 into its completely spread position can alreadytake place before the space 54 completely disappears when the brace 6 ispushed towards the post 1. Blows of a hammer exercised on the hook leadto firm attachment of the end of the brace in the embodiment accordingto FIGS. 2 and 5. The shape of the wedge 47 differs from the shape ofthe wedge 12 in FIG. 2 and 34 in FIG. 5 as can be seen by comparison ofthe drawings. However, the embodiment of FIG. 6 also provides that, inthe spread position, a force exercised by the inner surface 52 of theopening 4 on the wedge 47 is directly transferred to the inner frontsurface of the groove 46.

The surface 56 facing the post 1 is largely flat and has a bend in itsupper half to which a flat surface 57 is adjacent. The wedge 47 has anose 58 on the side facing away from the post 1, which seats on the edge59 of the opening 20 in the neutral position when the end of the braceand the hook 7 are not inserted into the opening 4 to thereby preventthe wedge 47, in this spread position, from falling through the opening20. The dimensions are thereby chosen in such a fashion that, in thisposition, the upper end 60 of the wedge 47 projects upwardly out of theupper opening 22.

I claim:
 1. A scaffold joint assembly comprising:a post having aprotrusion mounted thereto, said protrusion extending radially away froman outer surface of said post, said protrusion having an opening; abrace having a hook mounted thereto, said hook having a first surfacefacing and extending substantially parallel to said outer surface ofsaid post, said hook having second surface opposite said first surface,said second surface slanting in an upward direction toward said outerpost surface, said hook also having a third surface adjacent to saidsecond hook surface and opposite and substantially parallel to saidfirst hook surface; and a wedge having a first surface cooperating withsaid second hook surface to slide said wedge along said second hooksurface in an upward direction when said hook is initially lowered fromabove into said opening, said first wedge surface slanting downwardlyaway from said outer surface of said post in a lower locking position ofsaid wedge, said wedge having a second surface adjacent said first hooksurface and extending in a substantially vertical direction in contactwith said third hook surface in said lower locking position of saidwedge, whereby a lower end of said wedge seats on said protrusionadjacent to said opening when introducing said hook into said opening,is displaced upwardly when said hook is further lowered into saidopening, and then moves downwardly through said opening and pivots awayfrom said post to firmly seat said wedge in said opening for blocking anupward movement of said brace.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein saidopening has a radial length which is larger than a first radialdimension of a section of the hook lying within said opening when thebrace is attached to the post plus a second dimension by which saidlower wedge end protrudes radially away from said second surface of saidhook in a most upward location of said wedge.
 3. The assembly of claim1, wherein said wedge comprises means retaining said wedge againstsliding in a downward direction relative to an end of the brace beforesaid hook is introduced into said opening.
 4. The assembly of claim 1,wherein said hook has a fourth surface adjacent to said second hooksurface cooperating with an inner surface of said opening to displacethe brace towards the post when said hook passes through said opening.5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said wedge slides under the force ofgravity along said second hook surface to pass through said opening. 6.The assembly of claim 1, wherein said opening, said wedge and said hookare dimensioned to hold said wedge via frictional forces within saidopening in opposition to upward motion.
 7. The assembly of claim 6,wherein an outer surface of said wedge seats on an inner edge of saidopening to lock said wedge against an upward motion thereof.
 8. Theassembly of claim 1, wherein said opening, said wedge and said hook aredimensioned to hold said wedge in opposition to a pivoting motion. 9.The assembly of claim 1, wherein said hook has a groove within whichsaid wedge is guided.
 10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the brace hasa groove for guiding said wedge.
 11. The assembly of claim 1, whereinsaid wedge is held in a permanent fashion within an end of the brace.12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the brace has a hollow section andsaid wedge has a protrusion which seats on an inner surface of a wall ofthe hollow section when said wedge is moved relative to an opening inthe wall.
 13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said wedge has anopening into which a transverse bolt can be introduced in a removablefashion when said wedge is within said hollow section and a second wallof the hollow section has an opening to introduce said transverse boltinto said opening of said wedge.
 14. The assembly of claim 1, whereinsaid wedge is held in the brace in a detachable fashion prior to anintroductory position of said wedge.
 15. The assembly of claim 14,wherein said wedge has a recess to hold said wedge on an edge of thebrace when said wedge is in a raised position.
 16. The assembly of claim1, further comprising means to hold said wedge against pivoting into aninner volume of the brace.
 17. A scaffold joint assembly comprising:apost having a protrusion mounted thereto, said protrusion extendingradially away from an outer surface of said post, said protrusion havingan opening; a brace having a hook mounted thereto, said hook having afirst surface facing and extending substantially parallel to said outersurface of said post, said hook having a second surface opposite saidfirst surface, said second surface slanting in an upward directiontoward said outer post surface, said brace having a hollow sectioncomprising a lower wall having an opening and an inner surface and aside wall having an opening; and a wedge having a first surfacecooperating with said second hook surface to slide said wedge along saidsecond hook surface in an upward direction when said hook is initiallylowered from above into said opening, wherein said wedge is held in apermanent fashion within an end of said brace, said wedge comprising aprotrusion seating on said inner surface of said lower wall of saidhollow section before said hook is inserted into said post protrusionopening, said wedge also having an opening into which a transverse boltcan be introduced in a removable fashion through said opening in saidsecond wall when said wedge is within said hollow section.